Braiding-machine.



No. 736,856. I v PATENTBD AUG. 18, 1903. J. LUNDGREN.

BRAIDING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1901. RENEWED JAN. 27. 1903.

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No. 736,856. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

J. LUNDGRBN. BRAIDING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1901. RENEWED 31113.27. 1903. N0 MODEL.

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PATENTED AUG. 18. 1903.,

J. LUNDGREN. BRAIDING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED my. 27, 1901. RENEWED nip 27, 1903.

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No.73 6',856. PATENTEDAU'G. I8, 1903.

' J.'LUNDGREN.

BRAIDING MACHINE. APIfLIOATIOH FILED APR. 27, 1901;. RENEWED JAN. 27, 1903.

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No. 736,856. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

J. LUNDGREN.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

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No. 736,856. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

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BRAIDING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED APR. 21, 1901 gnnnwnn AN. 27, 1903.

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U ITED STATES l Patented August 18, 190a;

PATENT OFFICE.

JAKOB LUNDGREN," OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY M. HARLEY, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY.

BRAIDING-M ACHINE.

SBEGIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,856, dated August 18, 1903.

Application filed April 27, 1901. Renewed January 2'7, 1903., $e1'ial No. 140,810. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, J AKOB LUNDGREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain,

new and useful Improvements in Braiding- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to.

make and use the same. I

My invention relates to the well-worked and clearly-defined art of plaiting or braiding a tubular casing adapted to envelop a core or body member, the problem involved being to incorporate or plait the threads forming the casing by passing the individual threads of one series of threads under and over each alternate thread of another series.

It will be found from the following specification thatI have made a radical departure from the lines of construction commonly followed in this art, inasmuch as I have so simplified the mechanism involved that a very compact grouping of the elements "is effected, while at the same time the speed and efliciency of the machine are greatly augmented, the quality of the product showing very closely incorporated threads, each thread falling flat directly in the angle which it is to permanently occupy in the finished braid or cord.

The prime object of myinvention is to elimi' nate every unnecessary element, and thereby simplify the construction of a complete machine.

A further object is to so design the parts as to make it possible to cast or mold the major portion of them, thereby leaving very little machining or other special and expensive finishing work to be done and also insuring that the wearing parts may be readily replaced.

Afurther object and most important desideratuin is to so dispose andincline the upper series of bobbins or those contributing their threads directly to the braid that said threads will be delivered at what may be termed the braiding-angle, and thereby incidentally insure that the threads from the lower series of bobbins, which are passed alternately under and over the upper threads, shall be similarly delivered to the braid. In other words,

by the arrangement which I have adopted the threads as delivered to the finished braid occupy an obtuse angle with respect to the path of the braid, while in all other machines with which I am familiar the threads are delivered around the core from a line which is substan tially at right angles to the core, and it is obvious that a much greater strain is thus placed upon each individual thread before it is incorporated with the others.

It is further obvious that bya reduction of the number of elements or parts involved in the complete machine and simplifyingthe construction thereofI am enabled to reduce the strain and friction incident to use to a minimum degree and am also able to run the machine at a much higher rate of speed with the resultant increase in the capacity or output.

Other objects and advantages will be made fully apparent from the following specification and the preferred physical embodiment of my idea pointed out in the claims, it being understood that I desire to comprehend in this application all substantial equivalents and substitutes that may be considered to fall fairly within the scope and purview of my invention, inasmuch as the details of construction and combination may be varied Without departing from the principle involved.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my invention, taken from that side to which the power is applied. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the major portion of my invention, showing the upper part of the standards and also the upper series of bobbins removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of my machine, taken on a line with the power-shaft or from end to end of the frame. Fig. i is an enlarged detail view illustrating in central section a portion of the framework and also the upper and lower bobbin-carrying mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailviews of the thread-delivering arm for the lowerbobbins. Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detail views showing portions of the standards and tension device for the upper bobbins. Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of stop mechanism employed to stop the machine when a thread of one of the upper bobbins is broken.

Fig. 14 shows a bobbin-carrier and a part of the trackway.

The elements of my invention and cooperatin g accessories will for convenience be designated by numerals, of which 1 indicates a supporting-base of any desired character, to the central portion of which I secure the verticallydisposed tubular post 2, around which I concentrically and rotatably dispose the tubular shafts 3, and 4, said shafts being oppositely rotated by the beveled gear 5 upon the power-shaft 6, the shafts 3 and 4 being provided, respectively, with the cooperating gears 7 and 8, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, said cooperating gears being properly keyed or otherwise secured in their operative positions. The post 2 is made tubular, as will be readily apparent to those familiar with this class of machines, in order to permit the core or filling employed in forming the cord or braid to pass freely upward through the center of the machine to be received and surrounded by the plaited casing formed by the threads from the bobbins, as will be hereinafter pointed out.

Integrally formed with or otherwise secured to the upper end of the tubular shaft 3 is the table or disk section 9, while in like manner the upper end of the shaft 4 is provided with the table or spider section 10, having the upturned vertically-disposed flange 11,

designed as a trackway for the upper-bobbincarrying members or segments, preferably comprising in the interest of mechanical simplicity the two parts 12 and 13, said parts being so shaped as to snugly receive the upper portion of the trackway 11 and being held in operative relationship with each other in any suitable way, as by the screw 14. The lower edges of the segmental carriers thus or otherwise constructed present an outline to facilitate a passing of the threads, as will be hereinafter referred to.

In order to permit the carrying members 12 and 13 thus or otherwise combined to ride freely upon the trackway 11 without casually slipping off the same, any suitable retaining device, as an annular groove 15, formed in the edge of the trackway, and a corresponding lug or rib 16, fitting said groove and carried by a contiguous part of the carrier, may be provided, as illustrated in Fi g. 3 and other views.

Notwithstanding the carriers are vertically disposed on the trackway I so mount the upper bobbins 17 that they will each incline toward a common center and will thus be in a position to deliver their threads at an obtuse angle to or for all practical purpose substantially parallel with the path of the finished braid, this disposition of the upper bobbins being easily and cheaply effected by providing an inclined face upon the upper edge of the member 12 and also providing a suitable device, as a lug 18, designed to be received by a bore in the end of the bobbin spindle, the upper end of the bobbin being sustained and supported preferably in a manner hereinafter specifically set forth.

Both the lower and upper series of bobbins being so mounted as to incline inward at their upper ends will occupy much less room than if disposed as is now common in other braiding-machines. I am therefore able to use a larger number of bobbins or bobbins of larger size by thus inclining them inward at their upper ends, while a minimum movement of the lower thread is required to pass it under and over the upper bobbin.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be observed that the spider or table 10 is designed to carry the lower series of bobbins 19, said bobbins also being so disposed that they will be in an inclined position, and thereby deliver their threads in a line substantially at right angles therefrom. The lower bobbins are each provided with a supporting-shaft 20, the upper end whereof is threaded or otherwise securely seated in the inclined face of the section 21, the lower end of said shaft having a pivoted cross-head 22, which latter may be readily extended in the slot in which it is disposed, so that it will lie substantially parallel with its shaft, when the bobbin may be readily slipped in place and the cross-head 22 again disposed at right angles to its shaft, it being understood that said cross-head is only representative of many other devices equally efficient. The bobbins being thus compactly disposed permit a larger number or size of bobbins to be employed.

As above stated, while the shafts 3 and 4 are concentrically disposed with respect to each other they are oppositely rotated, and I utilize the opposite movement of the parts carried by the tables 9 and 10 to direct the thread from the lower bobbins under and over each alternate upper thread, as is necessary to produce a finished braid, such result being accomplished through the mediation of certain cooperating elements,which I will now describe in detail.

The segmental carriers comprising the members l2 and 13 are at alltimes intimately connected to and therefore travel in harmony with the disk 9; but since it becomes necessary to pass the thread from the lower bobbins under the upper bobbin upon each carrier I provide two reciprocating bolts or pins 23 and 24 for each of the carriers, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 2. Each of the reciprocating pins is provided with a downwardly-directed lug 25, which extends loosely through a slotted opening in a contiguous part of the table 9, said pins being held in place by any suitable means, as by the brackets 26 and locking-screws 27 The lugs 25 are of sufficient length to ex- I the table-section 10, as indicated by the numeral 30. The cam-groove 28 is so formed that it will control or time the movement of each of the locking-pins 23 and 24 so that the I individuals of each pair will alternately engage and disengage their respective bobbinthread from the lower bobbins to pass freely under the carriers, which result is accomplished through the cooperation of the vibrating arm or thread-carrying member 31.

The arm 31 is pivotally connected to the bracket 32, secured in place upon the outer edge of the table 10, as by the screw 33, said arm being illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein it will be observed that it is provided with a rightangled extension or tension device 34 and with an aperture 35, whereby it may be pivotally attached to the free end of the bracket 32, said extension being also provided with the thread-engaging recesses 36, as is common, The median line of the arm 31 will show a curvature sufficient to dis pose said arm substantially parallel with the outer surface of the track-section 11 or bobbin-carrier thereon in order that the free end of said arm may be disposed operatively adjacent t0 the slotted opening 37, provided at regular intervals in the edge of the table 10 and flange carried thereby, said slot 37 being designed for the reception of the thread 6X1 tending from the end of the arm 31 or from the lower bobbin, and thus dispose it inside of the path of the upper-bobbin carriers, the movement of the independently reciprocat- -ing pins 23 and 24 being so timed that they will be withdrawn at the instant they pass said slot, though one of said pins will always remain in engagement with its carrier, and thereby insure that said carrier will move in true sympathy with the disk 9. I

In order to provide reliably-efficient means to unerringly move the arm 31, I provide at a point thereon, preferably between the middle portion thereof and its pivot-point, an outwardly-directed finger 38, which for best results should be provided with an antifriction-sleeve, as is common, said finger and sleeve being designed to follow the guidinggroove 39, formed in the inclined plate or.

rigid collar-section 40, the sinuosity of said guiding-groove being such the free end of the arm 31 will move in such a manner that a thread delivered thereby will be passed un-} der one of the upper-bobbin carriers, over the succeeding carrier, and so continue the disposal of the thread under and over each alternate carrier, and thereby insure that the plaiting process will be completed.

The collar or plate 40 is supported in its operative position by suitable standards 41 and 42, erected upon the base 1, and in addition to end of which is provided with a suitable gear 52 to mesh with the worm 53 on the shaft 6, the size of said cooperating Worm and gears being such as to insure that the finished braid or cord will be properly delivered from the machine.

It being very desirable and important to re- 7 liably mount the upper bobbins so that they will all incline toward a common center, and thereby reduce the distance traveled by the free end of the arm 31 to a minimum, and consequently increase the rapidity and accuracy of operation, I accomplish such disposition of said bobbins by securing the bobbin-holding standard 54: to the inclined face of the mem ber 1-3, which may be done in any preferred way, as by a screw passing through a suitable aperture in the base-section 55. The upper end of the standard 5 1 is bifurcated, as inclicated in Fig. 10, and between the branches 56 and 57 I pivotally mount the member 58, having a thread-engaging terminal 59, the bobbin brake or terminal 60, and the springseat 61, an aperture 62 being provided to enable the member to be pivotally secured in position. A tension-spring 63 is also disposed between the branches 56 and 57 and secured in position by the adjustable screw 64:, the dis position of said spring being suchthat the seat extension 62 will be normally elevated thereby, while the brake will be incidentally drawn inward or toward the peripheral edge of the end 65 of the bobbin. The upper end of the bobbin 17 is sustained in its operative positionby means of the stem 66, also provided with a bifurcated end, the branches 67 and 68 being designed to rest upon either side of the branches 56 and 57 of the standard 55 where they may be pivotally secured by the bolt or rivet 69, which latter extends through the apertures in the branches 56 and 57 and the aperture 62. By thus providing an automatic tension-regulator the friction comes upon the spool or bobbin orits equivalent and not upon the thread, as all of the strain on the thread is automatically relieved by the friction on the spool, enabling double thread to be used on each bobbin, if desired. It becomes a very easy matter, therefore, to remove any of the bobbins by simply raising the same to disengage it from the lug 18 upon its carrier and then moving the same, so as to permit the bobbin to be moved downward off of the stem 66. By a proper adjustment of the set-screw 64 the spring 63 may be brought to bearlightly or firmly,as desired,againsttheseat61,and'thereby regulate the degree of pressure imparted by the brake-section 60 upon the head 65.

In a mechanism of the character specified the cooperating parts of which are necessarily very rapidly manipulated it becomes important to provide automatically-acting devices designed to stop the machine as soon as any one of the threads may become broken. For each of the upper series of bobbins I provide an automatically-acting mechanism which will instantly be set in operation if a thread is broken, said mechanism comprising the IIO loosely-mounted shaft 70, disposed substantially parallel with the standard 54 and operatively connected thereto by the bearing-seats or collars 71 and 72. The shaft is provided upon its upper end with the hook-terminal 73, designed to engage a thread as it leaves the bobbin and extends upward through the guides 74 and 75 to the terminal 59. The lower end of the shaft 70 extends loosely through a suitable aperture provided in a contiguous part of the upper edge of the members 12 and 13 and is provided with the stop or enlarged section 76 for the purpose of limiting the downward movement of said shaft.

For convenience of illustration I have shown the shaft 70 as being upon the opposite side -of the standard 54 from that occupied by the bobbin, it being understood that in practice said shaft may be located upon the same side of the shaft with a bobbin or in any other position with respect to the standard which may be found most desirable in practice.

When a thread becomes broken, the shaft or rod 70 will by gravity drop downward until the lower end 77 is disposed in the path of the outer end of the lever 78, pivotally attached, as by the screw 79, to the outer edge of the table 10, the inner end 80 of saidlever being normally adjusted so as to bear against the upper end of the member 81, the lower end-of said member being extended at right angles, as indicated by the numeral 82, said extension being pivotally mounted in the slotted end of the post 83, the upper end of which has a threaded stem 84, adapted to be seated in a suitable aperture in a contiguous part of the table.

Since the member 81 is pivotally mounted in position in the lower end of the post 83 it will move downward in a substantially horizontal plane by centrifugal action (further downward movement being prevented by the extension 82 engaging the post 83) as soon as it is released by the lever 78. The lever 78 is operated by the downwardly-exten ding end 77 of the shaft 70 when the latter is released as a result of a broken thread. When the member 81 is thus disengaged, it will instantly move downward into a horizontal position and the outer end thereof will be disposed so as to strike a releasing device (in this instance the pivoted lever 85) holding operative relationship with a band-switching mechanism, comprising the longitudinally-movable shaft 86, having the belt-guiding fingers -or loop 87 and the controlling-handle 88.

The shaft 86 is provided with a suitable recess or groove 89 at its inner end to receive the lower end of the pivoted lever 85, said lever being held normally in engagement with said recess by the spring 90, of proper strength to be readily overcome by the action of the member 81 upon the lever 85.

An auxiliary spring 91 of much greater strength than the spring is also provided,

the outer end of which is properly anchored to the casing 92, provided for the shaft 86,

while the inner end is connected to a lug or post 93, carried by the shaft 86 and extending through a slot in said'casing, and it is clear that when the shaft 86 is released by the the lever 85, in this instance said cooperating devices consisting of the thread-guiding hook 96, pivotally mounted in position upon the friction device 97, which latter is also pivotally held in position by the bracket 98, attached to the lower side of the table 10. The member 96 is held normally upward by the thread as it passes from the bobbin to the compensating device 34, but will move downward in a horizontal plane as soon as the thread is broken, thereby disposing said member in the same plane occupied'by the upper end of the lever 85 and bringing the member in contact with said lever, so as to insure the same will be disengaged from its connection with the shaft 86.

The tension device 97 is so shaped that its lower free end will be brought to bear upon the peripheral edge of the lower end of the bobbin, the degree of pressure exercised by said end being determined by the spring 99, secured in position upon the bracket 98 by the screw or rivet 100, the tension of said spring being regulated and controlled by the set-screw 101, thus affording a most perfect adjustment for the lower bobbins, which will insure that the threads from all bobbins will be paid off with a uniform degree of tension in accordance with the requirements for work of different character.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the operation of my improved braiding-machine will be clearly apparent, though it may be briefly stated that after the several bobbins have been disposed in their respective operative positions the thread extending from the lower bobbin will first pass into engagement with the hook 102 and then through an eye in the member 96 and thence upward substantially parallel with the upper face of the stationary collar or annular plate 40 and through the hook terminal in the end of the compensating extension 34 and thence through the eye in the end of the arm 31 to the aperture 45 or the point where it is incorporated with the other threads into an envelop for the core. The threads from the bobbin 17 are extended from the bobbin first into engagement with the hook 7 3, thence through the devices 74, 75, and 59,and from there direct to the aperture 45 or to the braiding-point. The machine is then started and the tables 9 and 10 rotated oppositely from each other, the result being that the carriers will move upon the trackway 11 and the arm 31 will be, moved upwardly and downwardly and extend the thread from the lower bobbins into the slot 37, when the movement of the pins 23 and 24 will be so timed and determined by the sinuous guideway 28, as above set forth, that said pins will not contact with said thread, thereby permitting the upper-bobbin-carrier to pass freely by, when an upward movement of the arm 31 will withdraw the thread from said slot, its movement being so timed as to permit the next carrier to pass by under the thread thus elevated, the result being that each alternate upper bobbin will pass under the thread while the others will pass over the same, and, thereby insure that the threads will be perfectly incorporated at the braidingpoint 45, suitable means being employed to draw the finished braid away from the machine, as by winding the same upon a weight or spring controlled drum, as is common.

Having thus fully described the construc tion and manner of using my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I11 a braiding-machine, a series of upper and lower bobbins, a carrier for the upper bobbins, a carrier for the lower bobbins, each bobbin being mounted on its carrier and the upper and lower bobbins being disposed with their upper ends inclined inward toward the central vertical line of the machine, means to rotate said series of bobbins in opposite directions, and additional means to pass the thread from each lower bobbin under and over each alternate upperbobbin, as set forth.

2. In a 'braidingmachine, an upper and lower table 9 and 10 respectively, means to oppositely rotate the same, a trackway on the lower table, a plurality of bobbin-carriers for said trackway, the upper and lower bobbincarriers being all disposed with their upper ends inclined inward, and a pair of pins for each carrier mounted on the upper table and means to cause the individuals of each pair of pins to alternately engage and disengage their carrier as and for the purpose set forth. 3. In a braiding-machine a suitable support, oppositelyrotatable tables, means to actuatethe same, a trackway on the edge of the lower table, abobbin-carrier on said trackway, upper and lower bobbin-carriers all being disposed with their upper ends inclined inward, and a pair of reciprocating pins on the upper table combined with means to cause said pins to alternately engage and disengage said carriers, as set forth.

4. In a braiding-machine, upper and lower bobbin-carriers all disposedwith their upper ends inclined inward, a suitable support carrying oppositely-rotating tables, one of said tables having a flange provided with a groove and a segmental two part bobbin carrier mounted on said flange and having engagement with said groove, all combined asset forth.

5. In a braiding-machine, oppositely-rota chine, whereby the thread from the bobbin will fall substantially parallel with the surface of the core of the cord, all arranged as set forth. Y

6. In a braiding-machine, a rotating table provided with a flange, upper and lower bobbin-supports, all disposed with their upper ends inclined inward, segmental carriers mounted on said flan ge, and bobbins arranged on said carriers at an obtuse angle thereto with their upper ends all inclined inward, as set forth. I

7. In a braiding-machine, a rotating table having a flange provided with a groove, segmental bobbin-carriers mounted thereon and having a part engaging said groove, and the upper and lower bobbin-supports all located on said carriers at an angle thereto with their upper ends all inclined inward, all arranged as set forth.

8. In a braiding-machine, a rotating table having a flange with segmental bobbin-carriers located thereon, said carriers having inwardly-beveled faces and upper and lower bobbin-supports, all attached to said faces with their upper ends all inclined inward, whereby the bobbins will be so disposed that they will all point toward a common center, as andfor the purpose set forth.

9. In a braiding-machine, a rotating table having a flange with a groove therein, a segmental bobbin-carrier composed of separate parts, one of which has a beveled bobbin-carrying face and one of which has a lug engaging said groove, as set forth.

10. In a braiding-machine, a rotating table, having a flange with a groove therein, a segmental bobbin-carrier composed of separate .parts, one of which has a lug fitting said groove, and the other part having a bevel face and a bobbin attached to said bevel face, all arranged as set forth.

11. In a braiding'machine, a suitable support carrying oppositely-rotating tables, one of said tables having a flange comprising a trackway and bobbincarriers mounted on said trackway, and upper and lower bobbinsupports all having their upper ends inclined inward toward the center, as set forth.

12. In a braiding-machine, a suitable support carrying oppositely-rotating tables, one of said tables having a vertical flange pro= vided with a bobbin-carrier and means to hold the carrier on said flange, and upper and lower bobbin-supports all having their upper ends inclined to the center as set'forth.

13; 111 a braiding-machine, a table having a flange provided at intervals with radial slits, aplurality of bobbin-carriers mounted on said flange and means to actuate said carriers, up-

per and lower bobbin-supports all having their upper ends inclined inward toward the center, a thread-carrier arm pivoted to said table and means to vibrate said arm, whereby its free end will direct the thread into and out of one of said slits all arranged as set forth.

14:. -In a braiding-machine, a brake, a removable bobbin-holdingstem, apivotallymounted member with thread-engaging terminal, and a bobbin supporting standard carrying a rod provided with a hook 73 held in place by the thread whereby should the thread break the rod will fall, thereby releasing devices and stopping the machine, all combined as set forth.

15. In a braiding-machine, a brake, a removable bobbin-holding stem, a pivotallymounted member with thread-engaging terminal, a spring tension, a bobbin-supporting standard and means carried by the same connected with the thread, whereby should the thread break the machine will be stopped, all arranged as set forth.

16. In a braiding-machine, a brake, a removable bobbin-holding stein, a pivotallymounted member with thread-engaging terminal, a spring tension and a bobbin-supporting standard, carrying a hook-rod normally supported by the thread whereby should the thread break the machine will be stopped by devices released by the falling rod, all combined as set forth.

17. In a braiding-machine, the combination with a brake, a removable bobbin-holding stem, a pivotally mounted member with thread-engaging terminal, a spring tension, and a bobbin, of a thread-engaging member adapted to fall downward when the thread is broken whereby releasing devices will be engaged by it and the machine stopped as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAKOB LUN D GREN.

Witnesses:

J. DANIEL EBY, WALTER PINCUS. 

